When the phrase ‘inter-estate football tournament is mentioned among residents of Nakuru East sub county, it brings up nostalgia of the days when the inter-estate tournament was a do or die.

Close to two decades ago, the matches that used to take place at the famous Kamukunji grounds that sits next to Lumumba estate next to Bondeni Police station, would attract fans from all the estates in Nakuru East.

Here, it was about who would outshine the other in the football matches.

And if you thought it was only an affair of the boy child, then you are wrong for several ladies would show up for the match as they crossed fingers for the teams from their respective estates to emerge winners.

Besides being a competition, the tournament had a fun moment of meeting various national football talents.

These are talents who were brought up in these estates and despite joining national teams, they would come back to the estates during the December holidays.

The matches were also used as a unifying factor for the members of the public who would turn up to watch the games and share fun moments.

Job Okumu- a resident, reveals to Mtaa Wangu, that this was a tournament no one would miss.

He adds that despite the football rivalry among the various estates among them Machanga, Bondeni and Manyani, it was also a key aspect of unifying the locals.

“This was more than just football for it brought everyone together,” he says.

Francis Shinali and Chris Musu from KFA estate and Kivumbini number 2 estates respectively agree.

The two argue that the matches also helped in ensuring cohesiveness among members of the various estates in Nakuru East.

They are however quick to note that the joy was also in seeing the estate that carried the day at the end of the tournament making away with trophies and other goodies.

Though the inter-estate football tournaments are still there, they do not embody the excitement that they used to.

The current inter-estates matches are now being carried out by the Nakuru Town East Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

pmambili@gmail.com

The power of inter-estate football matches in Nakuru East

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Pristone Mambili